Is the top four schools (Sanford, Ursuline, St. Elizabeth, and Caravel) always going to be the top schools vying for the championship?
This question was actually asked of me years ago. The reason was I was in a meeting with a group of coaches and one of the down state coaches was adamant about separating the high schools from public vs private state championships. Because no school can compete with these four schools as far as talent. And the rumors of recruiting. Well there is recruiting. But as far as I’ve seen it’s done by the parents of the schools. If they see a kid that plays they are actually going up to that parent(s) and talking to them about coming to that school. Parents love to win. So why not get another player that helps them win. Draw colleges to look at them by playing tougher schools in the area. The second is parents are willing to pay for their kid to be safe in a private school as far as socially. Now that doesn’t mean that private schools don’t have their issues but it’s a lot less than the public school system. The third is coaches need to open their minds by thinking that just because that kid lives in your district doesn’t mean that they have to come to your school. The private schools have camps or clinics as a way of connecting with the talented kids. The parents end up liking the coach and send their kid to their school. Public schools have to do a little bit better job of publicizing their school for both academic and athletics.
Will Ursuline Academy be a national powerhouse in two years?
I had a chance to watch Ursuline in a fall league game a few weeks ago. And they had talent at almost every position. And a bench that could be a starting unit on all high school teams. Their feature player(s) was Jezelle “Gi-Gi” Banks, Taylor “Tay-Tay” Brown, and Skyler Bolden. Then the next week I saw a whole new set of girls that I wasn’t too familiar with at the time. And I realized that they are as young as the other players I mentioned. And thought to myself wow this team will be a problem in a year or two if they all stay. Coach Noonan is a great developer in talent. That's why his teams, even in the rebuilding stage, are always in the hunt for a championship. But I don’t think he has had a collection of this much talent on one team at one time. Get your tickets now because that team if controlled and allowed to bloom will be a national power house in two years or sooner!
Is there a shortage of girls playing basketball now?
Is there truly a shortage? Well if you compare the overall class of 2019 then yes. There was talent on almost every team. And most of those girls are now juniors or seniors in college playing basketball now. Gone are the days that kids started playing basketball outside or in the school yard. If they aren’t going to a trainer then they are not committed to the sport and then they fall behind as far as talent. By all means I love the fact that parents are getting a hold on the child’s journey in the sport. But I'm a firm believer in letting the child love the game first and then the passion comes after. Let them start out at the ymca first and then they will love the game. I’m all about girls competing equally in sports.
Who will win Player of the year for 2022-2023 season?
There are a lot of good players this year. And it's hard to pick a clear cut favorite. I think Dallas Pierce could be the one to win it because Sanford is the odds on favorite to win it. And that would be the obvious choice. That or her running mate Azarela Kilgoe. But if they don’t win it, who will get it. I guess the team that wins it. I don’t know, but how about the DIAA picking the player of the year by their play in the regular season. And then pick a tournament MVP. That way you're picking a player based on their play vs winning a championship. I mean there are a lot of talented players that are carrying their teams that may not make the tournament or get put out in the first round. I think a few years back Me-me Brown who went to Dickinson High school should have ran away with it or at least got first team all-state. I know she ran into some issues down the stretch of that year but that is just one example of what I see that has made playing in this state a little troublesome. This year I think it will happen again with the player from Red Lion Christian Academy in Delaney Burroughs. She averaged almost 23 points per game. Yes, you would say that the talent there playing versus what Sanford is playing is no comparison. And I get that. But some old school players would say 25 points is 25 points. She didn’t even make an All-State list last year. And I’ sure that there are some other players as well that should get the recognition as well, but she is the one that comes to mind right now. I’m not mad, but I would like for us to reward key players no matter what school there is for their play, that's all.
What Do the people say? let's talk about it...
This question was actually asked of me years ago. The reason was I was in a meeting with a group of coaches and one of the down state coaches was adamant about separating the high schools from public vs private state championships. Because no school can compete with these four schools as far as talent. And the rumors of recruiting. Well there is recruiting. But as far as I’ve seen it’s done by the parents of the schools. If they see a kid that plays they are actually going up to that parent(s) and talking to them about coming to that school. Parents love to win. So why not get another player that helps them win. Draw colleges to look at them by playing tougher schools in the area. The second is parents are willing to pay for their kid to be safe in a private school as far as socially. Now that doesn’t mean that private schools don’t have their issues but it’s a lot less than the public school system. The third is coaches need to open their minds by thinking that just because that kid lives in your district doesn’t mean that they have to come to your school. The private schools have camps or clinics as a way of connecting with the talented kids. The parents end up liking the coach and send their kid to their school. Public schools have to do a little bit better job of publicizing their school for both academic and athletics.
Will Ursuline Academy be a national powerhouse in two years?
I had a chance to watch Ursuline in a fall league game a few weeks ago. And they had talent at almost every position. And a bench that could be a starting unit on all high school teams. Their feature player(s) was Jezelle “Gi-Gi” Banks, Taylor “Tay-Tay” Brown, and Skyler Bolden. Then the next week I saw a whole new set of girls that I wasn’t too familiar with at the time. And I realized that they are as young as the other players I mentioned. And thought to myself wow this team will be a problem in a year or two if they all stay. Coach Noonan is a great developer in talent. That's why his teams, even in the rebuilding stage, are always in the hunt for a championship. But I don’t think he has had a collection of this much talent on one team at one time. Get your tickets now because that team if controlled and allowed to bloom will be a national power house in two years or sooner!
Is there a shortage of girls playing basketball now?
Is there truly a shortage? Well if you compare the overall class of 2019 then yes. There was talent on almost every team. And most of those girls are now juniors or seniors in college playing basketball now. Gone are the days that kids started playing basketball outside or in the school yard. If they aren’t going to a trainer then they are not committed to the sport and then they fall behind as far as talent. By all means I love the fact that parents are getting a hold on the child’s journey in the sport. But I'm a firm believer in letting the child love the game first and then the passion comes after. Let them start out at the ymca first and then they will love the game. I’m all about girls competing equally in sports.
Who will win Player of the year for 2022-2023 season?
There are a lot of good players this year. And it's hard to pick a clear cut favorite. I think Dallas Pierce could be the one to win it because Sanford is the odds on favorite to win it. And that would be the obvious choice. That or her running mate Azarela Kilgoe. But if they don’t win it, who will get it. I guess the team that wins it. I don’t know, but how about the DIAA picking the player of the year by their play in the regular season. And then pick a tournament MVP. That way you're picking a player based on their play vs winning a championship. I mean there are a lot of talented players that are carrying their teams that may not make the tournament or get put out in the first round. I think a few years back Me-me Brown who went to Dickinson High school should have ran away with it or at least got first team all-state. I know she ran into some issues down the stretch of that year but that is just one example of what I see that has made playing in this state a little troublesome. This year I think it will happen again with the player from Red Lion Christian Academy in Delaney Burroughs. She averaged almost 23 points per game. Yes, you would say that the talent there playing versus what Sanford is playing is no comparison. And I get that. But some old school players would say 25 points is 25 points. She didn’t even make an All-State list last year. And I’ sure that there are some other players as well that should get the recognition as well, but she is the one that comes to mind right now. I’m not mad, but I would like for us to reward key players no matter what school there is for their play, that's all.
What Do the people say? let's talk about it...